<p>Just wondering if I could hear from those in the know about Marlboro since my son is considering looking at it. He is young still, will be a junior next year. His main interest is writing, specifically playwriting, and has an interest in American studies or popular culture and media studies. Is Marlboro a vibrant community even though it is so small? Do students get more one on one attention from teachers than in other schools because of the small size? Are the arts big there?</p>
<p>One thing Marlboro has going for it is the small classes and contact with profs. They are very accessible, and the curriculum is such that students really take responsibility for their learning–they do a senior plan,or big project. There is also a writing requirement because of the strong belief in the need to write well, across the curriculum. It is in a beautiful but very rural area. Music is very big at Marlboro (think Marlboro Music Festival, well-know world-wide) and in the general Southern Vt. area. Very liberal, very mellow. Students without a car will need to make friends right away! This is for the thoughtful student who wants individualized attention, but who doesn’t need the football games and the work-out center–you are more apt to take a walk or XC ski…hope this helps! I do think that this is one campus in which a visit would make a difference, one way or another…</p>
<p>If financial aid is a concern for you, I will say that Marlboro’s package was one of the worst ones we received in Spring 2009. Small endowment, no doubt. Nice rural location, which of course is not for everyone! From what I understand students voted for no ATM on campus and no satellite TV either. Student government is very important there. We have always heard great things about it from students who have enrolled there from our school district.</p>
<p>I know this message is coming a bit late, but I support what the first reply said. (Although we do have some gym facilities!) I have to say though - from my understanding, Marlboro’s aid package is quite large for the amount of students. I know Marlboro is awarded me 4/5 of my tuition in scholarships and grants. Marlboro is a need-blind/non-profit college, and the spectrum of kids from different economic backgrounds is very diverse. If some students tend to get less aid, it’s because there are students of equal caliber but who come from less privileged households, etc. I personally appreciate that spectrum here at Marlboro - I think it’s fairly easy among upper to middle-class kids attending small, private LACs to lose sight of the outside world. </p>
<p>Here’s Marlboro’s main portal to Financial Aid:
[Financial</a> Aid Offices Marlboro College](<a href=“http://www.marlboro.edu/offices/financial_aid/]Financial”>http://www.marlboro.edu/offices/financial_aid/)</p>
<p>Here’s a list of the common types of Financial Aid:
[Types</a> of Financial Aid Financial Aid Offices Marlboro College](<a href=“http://www.marlboro.edu/offices/financial_aid/types]Types”>http://www.marlboro.edu/offices/financial_aid/types)</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>jazzzmomm–I don’t know whether your son is still considering Marlboro. Answers to your questions–the writing program/requirement at Marlboro is very rigorous. My d has received pages of feedback on her writing, I have not seen anything like it in terms of the attention from faculty. In terms the vibrant community–the word I would use is intense. Both in terms of relationships with faculty, and among students. Everyone knows everyone. The students are very involved in the governance of the school, and everyone seems to have very strong opinions. No hiding at Marlboro, either academically or socially. For the right kind of kid, it’s really one of a kind. but it has to be the right kind of kid. A visit is a must, it’s a place that has to be seen, felt, heard.</p>